New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimagdala’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongimagdala’ characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy and dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are purple in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGIMAGDALA’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION AND STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR AND APPLICANT

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders' Rights application filed on Nov. 14, 2019, application number 2019/2986. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

The Inventor and Applicant assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or the Applicant. Inventor and Applicant claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongimagdala’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with large attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2013 in Koka, Ethiopia of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagpur’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,917, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN11-002765-004, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. in April, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongimagdala’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongimagdala’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy and dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely flowering habit.     -   6. Large flowers with cordate-shaped petals that are purple in         color.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Duemagpur’. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemagpur’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Duemagpur’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are purple in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Duemagpur’ are dark red purple in         color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are purple in color         whereas flowers of plants of the male parent selection are dark         red in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Doimmalaven’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,744. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Doimmalaven’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Doimmalaven’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have smaller flowers than plants         of ‘Doimmalaven’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are purple in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Doimmalaven’ are purple to red         purple in color with white-colored centers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kialdan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,029. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Kialdan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Impatiens are darker green in         color than leaves of plants of ‘Kialdan’.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Kialdan’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are darker purple in         color than flowers of plants of ‘Kialdan’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimagdala’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongimagdala’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer and early autumn in 16.5-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,500 to 5,500 lux. Plants were 18 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongimagdala’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemagpur’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,917.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN11-002765-004, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and             uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted triangle in             overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and dense             appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate to             rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 57 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about six to seven             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 34 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.6 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 8.75 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 12 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.25 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic to narrowly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate to attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             146A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to between 147A and             N189A; midvein, proximally, close to 58A and distally, close             to 144A; lateral venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded             leaves, lower surface: More green than 147A; midvein and             lateral venation, close to 53A.         -   Petiole length.—About 5.25 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 53A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Large single axillary             flowers that are rounded rectangular in shape; freely             flowering habit, typically about four fully opened flowers             and three to four flower buds per lateral branch; flowers             are flat and positioned above and beyond the foliar plane,             flowers typically face mostly upright.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about twelve weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.25 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy. Color: Close to 144A and 58A.         -   Flower diameter.—Large, about 7.25 cm by 6.75 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 3.3 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 3.4 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 3.4 cm. Width, banner petal: About 4.8 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, lower petals: About             3.5 cm. Shape, all petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals:             Cordate. Base, all petals: Cuneate. Margin, all petals:             Entire, not undulate. Texture and luster, all petals, upper             surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; slightly glossy;             iridescent. Texture and luster, all petals, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, all petals: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: More intense than             NN78A; towards the base, close to between N57A and 58A;             color does not change with development. When opening and             fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN78B to NN78C;             towards the base, close to between N57A and 58A; color does             not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.5 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 5 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             ovate. Lateral sepal apex: Acute to acuminate. Lateral sepal             base: Obtuse. Lateral sepal margin: Entire, not undulate.             Lateral sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Lateral sepal color,             upper surface: Close to 145B to 145C. Lateral sepal color,             lower surface: Close to 145A to 145B. Spur length: About             6.25 cm. Spur diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less             than 1 mm. Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Spur color:             Close to 59A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Angle: About 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong; flexible.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 59A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 3 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close             to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongimagdala’ as illustrated and described. 